Connection device for circuit-conductors.



T. E. MURRAY.

CONNECTION DEVICE POR CIRCUIT CONDUCTORS.

A APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, 1912. A

Patlted June 4, MM2

2 SHEETS-SHEET;

`T. E. MURRAY. GONNECTION DEVICE POR GmGUlT GONDUGTOBS.

'y APPL1oAT1oN;rILBD.EB.9, 1912.

. Patented June 4, 1912.

2 S HEETS'-SHBBT 2. A

. a vcitizen of the United UNITED sTATfEs PATENT Torsion'.

THOMAS E. MURRAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To allwlzom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. MURRAY, Y States, residing at New York,-inthe icounty of New York and State of- New York, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Connection Devices forCircuit-Conductors, of which the following is a specilication.

The invention is a connection device for circuit conductors, and isdesigned. to obviate the need. of constructing specially designedconnection apparatus to meet particular needs, and to substitutetherefor, a system of units, by combining which, in proper relation,.any desired arrangement of circuits Amay be obtained. I provide aplurality of insulating blocks, precisely alike as individuals except incertain `connections hereinafter noted. These blocks are placed injuxtaposition, in groups of three if'installed in a three-Wire system,or of two,if a two-wire system. The corresponding members of each groupare exactly alike and interchangeable. Where it is desired to continue amain feeder line only in itsv normal direction, or to take oft1branches, also, only in that direction, there maybe but one terminal forthe. feeder prolongation or for the branch on each block. Where it isdesired to continue the feeder only in the opposite direction, or totake off branches, direction, again there may be but one terminal forthe feeder continuation or, for the branch on each block. But where itis de' sired to carry -on the feeder line in either the normal or theopposite direction, or to take o-fl" the branches in either direction,or somel in one directionand some in the other, then two circuitterminals areV arranged respectively at the ends of each block. Theseveral groups of blocks` are placed with their members'injuxtaposition, andare sesupport by a simple all of them, and

cured to .common holdlng dev1ce. Across preferably-midway between theend circuit interchangeable members of 'eachgroup of l 50 group ofmutually insuterminals, extend a The corresponding and lated conductors.

blocks arey connected-.to -one and the same member of this group ofconductors, so that for a three-wire system there will be 'threecondufc't'orsvin the group, and for a twowire system, two. Between thecircuit termlnals, of each block and the cross conductorto -aiilxes t-heproper number also, only in that opposite of Fig. 1, showing abifurcated able (and preferably fuse) switch plugs,l

so that simply by varying the arrangel'nent of the plugs, omittin some,inserting others, as hereinafter explained, it becomes easily possibleto establish whateverl leads may bel desired, and in whatever direction.I provide, also, means for securing the plugs in place, in the form ofinterchangeable standards, which are clamped in place by the same devicewhich holds the blocks in juxtaposition, and which carry screws whichbear upon the tops of the plug covers. The net result is that given anyspecial conditions of desired main and branch leads at a certain point,the constructor determines how many groups of blocks he requires, and tohis vpanelfnat the same time establishing the clamping standards inplace. Then he puts in the switch plugs, which are all alike, in theproper sockets in the proper blocks, connects the circuit terminals, andhis work is done. Provided with an ample supply of blocks and plugs,together with standards, brackets and clamping bars, each one like everyother, he cango from point to point vof the instalment, and simply puttogether, in the way hereinafter described, any arrangement of them.that` may suit the local conditions, and, afterward, in case of injury,he can take out any part and substitute another exactly like it in a fewmoments, and without any diliculty.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a plan View, showingV a groupof three connection boxes in place, one of the brackets G being removed.Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, with a .switch plug O, shown in eachblock, and the conductors L in section. Fig. 3 is a plan View, showingtwo groups of, three connection boxes, each in place, with switchplugs() in the left hand sockets of saidk boxes. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section of block A of Fig. 1. Fig. ,5 is longitudinalsection of block B metal switch plugMU'in place :instead of a vfuse Fig.6 is a longitudinal'section of block C of Fig. 1, 'both switch plugsbeing removed.

Similar letters and, numbers of reference indicate like parts.

L .A plurality ofy base blocks,.as A, 173,0 and F, Fig..3 are placed injuxtaposition betweenA movabi e'braekets G, secured to a Patented J une4, 1912. Application med February e, 1,912. 'serial 10.676,572.

panelwboard or other .'support, "and are held in lace by bolts Hpassino' through them and t ough/ the brackets. y ,num ber ofblocks maybe used, in groups of sthree, as A, B, C or D, E, F,-' w hen the serv- Y1cel1nes are of the three-wire type, or of two each if -t-he lines 'aretwo-wire, the brackets G, lof. course', being adjustedfatta/suitabledistance apart. In each-block there are two sockets I, into which enter,through the walls of the' block, circuit terminals il', Kin block AgJ',K in block B;.-and J, K" in .blockx C. Said terminals are here formed bydenuding. the ends of the sheathed line conductor L, secu-red by capplates M- and screws to contact plates N on the bottom of the sockets.Y.A switch plug enters and closes each of said sockets. As shown bestupon the bottom contact plate N. Contact clip Q. has an extension Swhich, after pass' ing through the space between the partition P andcover O, protrudes' beyond said cover.

Formed in each block between the sockets I' therein is a recess 1. Theserecesses l are in lalinement when the blocks are secured injuxtaposition, as described. A bar 2 of conducting material passesthrough the side walls of said blocks,- and is seated in a channel inthe bottom of said recesses.

YAbove the bar 2 in block A, Fig. 4, two s tirrup-shaped `contact lates3, 4 are disposed, one within the ot er, the upper plate Bbeing thesmaller, so thatv a .s ace'is left between their adjacent arms.` aidplates are connected to'bar 2 b screws 5.

Extendipgthrough t e recesses of the several juxtaposed' blocks andbetween the arms of stirrup-shaped plate 3 of block A is a plate ofmsulating material, which receives a: second b ar 7 .ofconductingmaterial in a recess in its upper side.l Abovethe plate ''ardbar'? is a similar insulating 'plate= .;8, .which in a `.recessin itsupper side receiveszathird conducting bar 9. Above the' late8' and -balr9 is a cover plate 10 of insl) the'upper surfaces of the blocks., 1

In the spaces-between the'side edges ofthevv insulating plates 6 and ,8and the partitions Pwhich separate the 'sockets' I in blocks B, C fromthe recesses 1 thereln, are placedUs 'shaped 'c ntact plates'11,12in-block B, Fig.

5 and-1 14 in block C,*Fig. 6. 'The plates 11, 12 in block B 'are unitedb `a transverse strip 15, which' is connectedv y1 a screw to i bar 7 Theplates 13, 14 in block' C are similarly united by a transverse. strip16, and

v connected bye-screw to bar 9.

When the fuse plugs are in place'oniblo'ck A, as shown in Fi`g.4, thepretruding ends ating material, which comes` flush with'` of the uppercontact plate extensions S enter between the arms of thestirrup-shapedplates 3, 4, so that circuit is then closed from.

lng ends of t e extension pieces Senter between the arms 'of theU-shaped contacts 11, 12,\fso 'that circuit will then be closed fromterminal J', through the fuse in one case R, through U-shaped contact11, and connectinglstrip` 15, to` U-shaped contact4 12,to the fuse inthe other case R`,'a'nd so to terminal K. Similarly, when the plu s arein place in block C,.the rotruding ends of extension pieces S enterbetween the arms of the jU- shaped contacts 13, 14, so' that circuitwill then be closed from terminal J through thefuse in one case R,vthrough U-shaped contact-'13, and connecting strip 16, to U- shapedcontactv 14, to the fuse vin the other case R, andso to terminal K.

Additional groups of blocks, as D? E, F,

may be connected to bars 2, 7, 9, which 'are to be elongated to whateverextent may be necessary, the terminals of blocks A and D then beingconnected to lbar 2, those of blocks B and E to bar 7, and those vofblocks `C .and F' to bar 9. Considering the terminals-J, J, J as-'thoseofa main line threewire feeder, it will be obvious that the switchlplugs in the several sockets 'may be arranged to vary the direction ofthe lead of the main feeder to establish .branch lines and to vary thedirection of the lead of suchbranches.A -Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, theplugs are in the left hand sockets of both 'groups ofblocks A, B, C andD, E, F, the direction of thel lead of the feeder. is reversed from thatshown in Fig. 1'. If all the plugs were left in place as shown .in Fig.`l, and the plugs of D, E, F inserted as shown in Fig. 3, then themainline would proceed to terminals K, K', K of blocks A,`B, C, and abranch line reversed in direction would be establishedfromblocks D, E,F. If, under the same conditions,the

plugs @were .insertedonly in the right hand sockets of D, E, F, thebranch line would continue in the same directional; ther-mainv -feederline. Ifall `the plugs were inserzted,

'in theA sockets o both groups A, B, C :and-A D, E, F, then twobranchesin opposite di- .rections would be established from the'main feederline,

In the electrical systems of city subways v l and in all installationswherlthe wiring is complicated, the flexibility of my construe# tionrenders it of great practical utility, since the units of each group ofblocks are alike and interchangeable, and groupsl may be added ,orremoved and the plugs ar- L ranged t'o suit any conditions of branchesor directions of lead .that may be desirable;

p alive.

mesas@ thus entirely obviating the need of specially constructedjunction boxes for particular cases. The device also is safe to handlebecause there is no danger in making changesy of blocks or plugs whilethe 'circuits are It is preferable to use plugs containing fuses, asdescribed, lbut obviously the fuses may be omitted andlike connectionsestab- .lished by simple inverted U-shaped switch plugs T, disposed anddepending from a suitable cup-shaped cover U, as shown in Fig. 5.

i-In order 'to `secure the plugs in place in the blocks, I provide loosestandards 18 flanged over at their lower ends and received between thewalls of the blocks, or between blocks and brackets, as the case may be,so that when the blocks are clamped together between the brackets bybolts H, the standards are in this way firmly held in an uprightposition and extend above the covers O. The standards are notched neartheir upper extremities to receive the ends of arms 19, through whicharms pass headed screws 20 which bearv on the tops of said covers. Thearms being placed across they cover, as shown in Fig. 1, and insertedin,

the standard notches, the screws 2are turned down, thus firmly bindingthe arms for removably securing said blocks in juxtapos1t1on, a circuitterminal on each block, a plurality of superposed mutually insulated.blocks, and movable means for connecting the circuit terminal on eachblock respec-- tively to one of said conductors.

2. A group of insulating blocks, means for removably securing saidblocks in Yjuxtaposition, a circuit terminal on Y'each block, aplurality of superposed mutually insulated conductors extending acrosssaid blocks, movable means forl connecting the circuit terminal-on'eachblock respectively to one of said conductors, and fuses interposedinsaid connecting means.

3. A group of insulating blocks, means for removably securing saidblocks in juxtaposition, two circuit terminals on each block,

interposed 'between conductors extending yacross said in` juxtapositionon said circuit terminals on each block respectively to one of saidconductors, and fuses linterposed in said connectingmeans.

5. A plurality of groups of insulating blocks, each having a recess,means for removably securing said blocks in juxtaposition with saidrecesses in alinement, a circuit terminal on each block, a gro-up ofmutually insulated superposed conducting bars extending through saidrecesses, and means for connecting the circuit terminals oncorresponding members of each ofl said groups of blocks to one and thesame member of said group of bars. 4

6. A plurality of groups of insulating blocks, each having a recess,means for removably securing said blocks in juxtaposition with saidrecesses in alinement, two circuit terminals on each block, a group ofmu tually insulated superposed conducting bars' extending through saidrecesses, and means for connecting the circuit4 terminals oncorresponding members of each of said groups of yblocks to one and thesame membei' of said group of bars,

7. A group of insulating blocks, means for removably securing saidblocks in juxta-y position, a circuit terminal on each block, contactsconnected tually insulated conductors extending across said blocks,contacts connected to said conductors, insulating partitions-on saidblocks said 'conductor and ter-v minal contacts, and. bifurcated plugsextending over said with said terminal and conductor'contacts to connectthe terminalion each block to one of said conductors. A

pportya group of insulating blocks,

A 'su means for .removably securing said blocks support, two circuitterminals on each block, contacts connected'to-said terminals, mutuallyinsulated conductors extending across said blocks between saidterminals, contacts connected to said conductors and disposed facindsaid iterminal contacts, partitions of insiilating material onlsaidblocks interposed between saidcontacts, and tw0-armed plugs extendingover said partitions and .coperating with to connect the circuitterminals on each of said blocks respectively to one of said con-Iductors.

9. VA connection block, Va s witch lug entering lsaid block, standardson said block, a bar extending over said plug and engaging at' each endwith said standards, and a clamping screw and 4bearinz on said plug.

10. A pilurality of connection blocks, means for removably securing said-blocksl in juxtaposition, switch pluos entering said blocks,4 removablestandar s tween said blocks, bars extending respecto said terminals, mu.

partitions and coperating' passing through Asaid bar` said terminal andconductor contacts disposed bebetweensaid block' 'and said support :endextending above said block, and means saidstandards for 'securing saidplug to v '.;12..A.p1urality' 5 support. therefor, brackets, means' forre- ,11 s

, vfor removably oonneetqn-jblocksiin juxtaposition between 11.Aconnectlon securing; sai

tively over said plugs and engaging at each end with adjacent standards,and clamping screws passin through said. bars and bearing. on-saidp ugs.

l block, a, support therefor, entering said block, means for block tosaid support-standa1-ds havingA anges at their lower.. ends ena switchpluv of. connection blocks; a

mvably Securlng said brackets to said sup `securing said.

switch vplugs entering said bloolis, and means extending over each pluforsecuring the same independently to its lock. f

13. A plurality of connection blocks, a I

support therefor, standards disposed between said blocks, meansextending through said blocks for clamping the same in juxtaposition andfor clamping saidstandards between said blocks, switch plugs enteringsaid blocks, and means on said standards :for securing said lugs toIsaid blocks.

aixed my signet-ure in presence of two witnesses.

In testimony w ereof I have THOMAS E. MURRAY.

Witnesses: v

p GERTRUDE T.. PORTER, MAY T. MCGARRY.

qies'oifhilpltent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing theCommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

